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> they don't differ much from lead generators for other businesses (plumbers, roofers, landmowers). There is significant difference. I'm not privy to their req

> they don't differ much from lead generators for other businesses (plumbers, roofers, landmowers). There is significant difference. I'm not privy to their requirements, but as I understand it drivers have to commit to a certain amount of rides in a month, availability at certain times (peak periods), and must meet certain criteria in execution of rides. IIRC, it's the dictation of how a job is performed, time schedules, etc. that have caused the courts to consider whether or not drivers are employees.

superuser2 11y ago
From where do you get the idea that Uber requires any sort of time commitment or schedule? Not doing that is the basis of its argument that drivers are contractors. All contractor relationships include meeting certain criteria in the execution of the work. If you "contact" with someone in a way that doesn't give them any obligations, it's just a gift.
- prostoalex 11y ago
  jroseattle is probably referring to Uber's attempt to add liquidity on the supply side by forcing higher-class vehicles to take lower-class fares (or else!) https://pando.com/2014/09/04/uber-continues-to-screw-its-partners-now-by-forcing-uber-black-drivers-accept-uberx-fares/ https://pando.com/2014/09/04/uber-continues-to-screw-its-par... There are also rumors of required percentage of accepted requests (i.e. they don't want the drivers to be logging in and sitting idly), but I can't find a link handy. Both of these practices, if continued, are likely to land Uber in hot water, so my (uneducated) guess is that it's no longer happening in US jurisdiction.
  - swyman 11y ago
    I might be a bit slow on this one, but I don't see the problem with even a strictly enforced requirement for ride acceptance given that the driver's app is "on". Uber's business is in efficiently matching available drivers with riders, and adjusting the market price based upon the relative supplies. Drivers with the app "on" but not actually accepting rides messes with their price offering on both sides of the equation. At the margin, riders pay less in surge with an artificially inflated supply of rides, and the drivers on the other side receive less in surge pricing. Is there something I'm missing here?
    - prostoalex 11y ago
      The drivers seem to object to a few scenarios: 1) Low-rated passengers. 2) Requests that require significant travel for pickups that are likely to result in short rides (pickup request comes from a downtown bar with next destination likely to be another downtown bar, the driver himself is not very close to downtown). Happens under low driver supply. https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdrivers/comments/2mykji/my_reply_to_ubers_low_acceptance_rate_email/ https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdrivers/comments/2mykji/my_repl... 3) Requests happening while the driver is "chasing the surge" and heading towards high-surge area while driving in non-surge vicinity and receiving a non-surge request just by being nearby. This thread has more links towards the nature of concerns http://uberpeople.net/threads/ride-skipping-deactivation.36582/ http://uberpeople.net/threads/ride-skipping-deactivation.365...
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
- jroseattle 11y ago
  Several (at least 3) Uber drivers in Seattle have told me they must commit to a certain duration of time and a number of rides, and the combination yields a schedule during certain times of the week. Might not be true in every town.

superuser2 11y ago

From where do you get the idea that Uber requires any sort of time commitment or schedule? Not doing that is the basis of its argument that drivers are contractors. All contractor relationships include meeting certain criteria in the execution of the work. If you "contact" with someone in a way that doesn't give them any obligations, it's just a gift.

prostoalex 11y ago
jroseattle is probably referring to Uber's attempt to add liquidity on the supply side by forcing higher-class vehicles to take lower-class fares (or else!) https://pando.com/2014/09/04/uber-continues-to-screw-its-partners-now-by-forcing-uber-black-drivers-accept-uberx-fares/ https://pando.com/2014/09/04/uber-continues-to-screw-its-par... There are also rumors of required percentage of accepted requests (i.e. they don't want the drivers to be logging in and sitting idly), but I can't find a link handy. Both of these practices, if continued, are likely to land Uber in hot water, so my (uneducated) guess is that it's no longer happening in US jurisdiction.
- swyman 11y ago
  I might be a bit slow on this one, but I don't see the problem with even a strictly enforced requirement for ride acceptance given that the driver's app is "on". Uber's business is in efficiently matching available drivers with riders, and adjusting the market price based upon the relative supplies. Drivers with the app "on" but not actually accepting rides messes with their price offering on both sides of the equation. At the margin, riders pay less in surge with an artificially inflated supply of rides, and the drivers on the other side receive less in surge pricing. Is there something I'm missing here?
  - prostoalex 11y ago
    The drivers seem to object to a few scenarios: 1) Low-rated passengers. 2) Requests that require significant travel for pickups that are likely to result in short rides (pickup request comes from a downtown bar with next destination likely to be another downtown bar, the driver himself is not very close to downtown). Happens under low driver supply. https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdrivers/comments/2mykji/my_reply_to_ubers_low_acceptance_rate_email/ https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdrivers/comments/2mykji/my_repl... 3) Requests happening while the driver is "chasing the surge" and heading towards high-surge area while driving in non-surge vicinity and receiving a non-surge request just by being nearby. This thread has more links towards the nature of concerns http://uberpeople.net/threads/ride-skipping-deactivation.36582/ http://uberpeople.net/threads/ride-skipping-deactivation.365...
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
jroseattle 11y ago
Several (at least 3) Uber drivers in Seattle have told me they must commit to a certain duration of time and a number of rides, and the combination yields a schedule during certain times of the week. Might not be true in every town.